Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin

The relationship between vocational rehabilitation (VR) acceptance and race, gender, education, work status at application, and primary source of support at application was examined using a binary logistic regression. Based on the use of a stepwise entry method. race, primary source of support at application, and education were found to be statistically significant. Moreover, after all variables were entered into the binary logistic regression equation, the total amount of variance explained in the dependent variable by the independent variables was 5.3%. Compared to European Americans. African Americans were 2.12 times more likely to be accepted for VR services, when controlling for all other variables in the study. Compared to customers who reported only their own income at application, individuals who reported income from family and friends and other sources were negatively associated with VR acceptance, after controlling for all other variables in the study. Implications for VR counselors are discussed.

This investigation determined whether differences still exist for racial minorities and women in terms of acceptance rates, employment outcomes, and quality of successful closures in the state-federal vocational rehabilitation system. Three control variables— age, education level, and severity of disability—were used in a logistic regression model. Differences in odds (based on odds ratio estimates) were found for the following: (a) acceptance rates—favored European Americans over African Americans, (b) employment outcomes—favored European Americans over both African Americans and Native Americans, and (c) quality of closures—favored men over women, with age acting as an effect modifier.

The effects of ancestry and severity of disability of vocational rehabilitation consumers (as measured by cost, time in rehabilitation, number of services received, receipt of assistive technology, and disability severity [the Rehabilitation Services Administration definition]) were examined by applying a logistic regression to the RSA-911 national database from 1998. The best model was identified and interpreted. European Americans, individuals with higher costs, and persons who received assistive technology were more likely to be closed rehabilitated. Individuals from other ancestry groups, who were coded severely disabled, or who had been in the system for longer periods of time were less likely to be closed rehabilitated. Model limitations and suggestions for future research are presented.

This article examines the relationship between race, vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, and the rehabilitation outcomes (i.e., closure status and income) of persons with severe/profound mental retardation. Six predictor variables (race, business and vocational training, on-the-job training, transportation, adjustment, and job placement) were used to predict one dichotomous criterion variable—closure status—and one continuous criterion variable—income (i.e., level of weekly earnings). Logistic regression analysis revealed that European Americans were significantly more likely to achieve closure success when compared to African Americans. Findings also indicated that persons with severe/profound mental retardation who were provided with job placement services were significantly more likely to achieve closure success (Status 26). Results are presented for each criterion variable, and the implications of the findings for service and research are discussed.

The reported study examined whether African Americans, European Americans, Native Americans/Alaskan Natives, and Asians/Pacific Islanders with disabilities would differ in their rates of vocational rehabilitation (VR) acceptance in the United Sates. The test statistic revealed that a significant difference existed regarding ethnicity and VR acceptance. Moreover, a small but significant association emerged between ethnicity and VR acceptance (Cramer's V = .023). The results revealed that in the United States, European Americans are more likely to be accepted for VR services than are African Americans. The author discusses possible barriers to VR acceptance for underserved and underrepresented groups in the United States.

Racial and ethnic disparities in access to vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and the efficacy of those services are a perennial concern of rehabilitation practitioners. This study used data from the Disability Supplement to the 1994 and 1995 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS) to assess VR services utilization and employment outcomes among different racial and ethnic groups of working-age adults with disabilities. Racial disparities in the socioeconomic status of VR recipients were identified. Minorities received different types of VR services than did European Americans. European American VR recipients had the highest rates of competitive employment, whereas African American VR recipients were placed in noncompetitive employment more often than other racial groups. Policy and programming implications for VR professionals are discussed.